The three chatted for two hours, and then Qiu Jingfan left with Qiu Qiyi and Kui Sihou.
Li Xiaochen also instructed people to make preparations for their departure back to Xia Kingdom.
Bai Teng did not return. Li Xiaochen and Qiu Jingfan had agreed that Bai Teng would remain in Zhao to continue his business, but would not be allowed to interfere in politics.
The people in the Zhao court and palace had to be withdrawn.
Li Xiaochen agreed, treating it as a business deal with Zhao. As long as Qiu Jingfan didn't attack Xia, it didn't matter whether he kept anyone or not.
Furthermore, Xin Xin still has international trade matters to discuss, and leaving Bai Teng in Zhao will make things easier for her in the future.
So when they came, they only brought about two hundred people, but when they went back, more than five hundred left.
Qiu Jingfan's face darkened upon seeing this. He had no idea that Li Xiaochen had actually placed so many spies in his country!
...
The Lin Mansion in the capital of Xia Kingdom!
"Qingxue, what brings you here? Oh! And you've brought so much stuff. The servants can carry these. Don't tire yourself out. Come, sit down!"
When Zhao Hanyue saw that her eldest daughter-in-law had come over carrying a large basket of things, she quickly went forward to take it, then pulled her to sit down and reminded her with concern.
“Mother, I’m fine. It’s only been two months, I’m not that delicate! I’m just bored and thinking that the weather will get warmer soon, so I wanted to make some clothes for my husband.”
Ji Qingxue followed Zhao Hanyya's hand and sat down next to her, speaking gently.
Three days ago, she suddenly felt dizzy. Her mother-in-law was worried and called a doctor. After the doctor's examination, he said that she was two months pregnant. Her mother-in-law was overjoyed and didn't let her do anything for the past two days, and even the daily greetings were waived.
She was really bored today, so she went to the storeroom and picked out a piece of cloth, wanting to discuss clothing styles with her mother-in-law and make two outfits for her husband.
“He’s a grown man, how could he not have clothes to wear? Besides, he’s always in the camp wearing the same uniforms. You won’t wear them many times even if you make them. Right now, you’re the most important person in our family. You’re carrying the first child of the Lin family, so we have to take it seriously!”
Zhao Hanyya was genuinely happy. She was going to have a grandson, their family's eldest grandson. How could she not be happy?
"Yes, daughter-in-law understands!"
Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Ji Qingxue was deeply moved. She knew she had married into a good family and was luckier than her two older sisters.
"Sigh! I just wonder how Xin Xin is doing. She's been gone for over a month, and I don't know when she'll be back."
As Zhao Hanyue spoke, she thought of her restless and precious daughter, sighed, and murmured with worry.
"Mother, Xin Xin is just going out for a stroll. With the Prince protecting her, she'll be fine. Don't worry."
Ji Qingxue gently comforted her.
She quite liked her sister-in-law; she was kind and didn't have much of a spoiled attitude, making her very comfortable to be around.
However, after being married for so long, she also discovered the unusual nature of the Lin family.
Her mother-in-law, husband, and two younger brothers-in-law all listened to her and took her affairs very seriously. Although she didn't know why, she knew that her sister-in-law was an unshakeable presence in the family.
"I hope so. That girl can't stay still, but I'm afraid even Xiao Chen can't control her! She used to send me a letter to let me know she was safe, but it's been half a month since I heard from her! I wonder how she is?"
Zhao Hanyue frowned and scolded her daughter without softening her heart, but her eyes were full of worry.
Ji Qingxue chuckled to herself but said nothing more. Her mother-in-law was scolding her daughter, and as the eldest sister-in-law, she couldn't speak up at this time.
We had to change the subject and talk about clothing styles.
"This style is better at Cuiya Pavilion. They also sell men's clothes there. I'll take you there sometime."
Zhao Hanyue accompanied Qingxue and suggested several styles, but she wasn't very satisfied with any of them, so she pulled her aside and said...
"Great! I heard that Xin Xin drew all those designs. Xin Xin is really smart!"
Ji Qingxue nodded, then smiled as she thought of her sister-in-law.
"That girl has a lot of clever ideas!"
Zhao Hanyue was quite happy to hear people praising her daughter, and she smiled and joked back.
At that moment, Lin Shixiao strode in and took a letter.
"Mother, there's news about my sister. This is a letter I just received, delivered by the Prince's men! Would you like to take a look?"
After handing the letter to Zhao Hanyue, he then greeted Ji Qingxue, who was standing to the side.
"Sister-in-law!"
"Hmm, Uncle, are you tired? Have some water!"
Seeing that her uncle was panting, Ji Qingxue knew that he must have rushed back as soon as he got the letter, so she got up and poured him a cup of tea.
Lin Shixiao was indeed thirsty, and he picked up his water glass and drank several mouthfuls in a row.
He received the letter and immediately took leave to rush home. He knew his mother was worried about his sister, who hadn't replied to his letters for the past two weeks, and he was constantly being nagged by her when he came home.
The eldest brother and the third brother were the smartest. One hid in the army camp and came back every two weeks, while the other went directly to the south to do business, leaving him alone at home to be nagged by his mother.
Zhao Hanyue took the letter, nervously opened it, and read it carefully. After reading it, she became very excited. She looked at her second brother, her eyes reddening with emotion, and said:
"Your sister is coming back, she's coming back, and she's pregnant, over a month along. I'm going to be a grandmother!"
"Really? That's wonderful! I'm going to be an uncle? Haha! My little sister is amazing!"
Upon hearing this news, Lin Shixiao's cold and stern face softened, and his eyes were full of smiles.
"She's quite something. Now your older brother has a child, and your younger sister has a child too, while you and Shaoyang are still single. When are you two getting married? I've shown you so many people, but nothing seems to work out."
Zhao Hanyue's emotions came and went quickly, but when it came to marriage, she was really angry. Her second son had once suggested that she find him a wife, but he ran away the next day, claiming he was going to do business. He hasn't come back for almost a month.
The third son, she had previously set her sights on Xue Yueying, the daughter of the Grand Secretary, who was only fifteen years old. The Grand Secretary's wife openly said that she thought highly of Shi Xiao.
As a result, the guy rejected her within two days, which made her so angry that she stayed home and stayed in bed for two days.
Later she learned that it was his son who, in order to avoid Lin Xiong'an's scheme, directly spread rumors about her, saying that he was impotent and would not be able to have children in the future.
Now that his son has a bad reputation, many families don't want their daughters to marry him.
The Prime Minister's family also privately approached his son.
What else doesn't Zhao Hanyue understand? Isn't it because her son has a bad reputation and they're afraid their daughter will suffer if she marries Shi Xiao? So the Prime Minister's family doesn't agree, but instead of saying it outright, they're secretly talking to their son to make him back down.
A few days after Shi Xiao refused, they spread the word that their young lady had found a husband, thus ending any hope the Lin family might have.
This way, Xue Yueying's reputation was preserved, and it also made it seem like the Prime Minister's family was good and didn't look down on Shi Xiao; all the good reputation was taken away by them.
This incident angered Zhao Hanyue so much that she stayed in bed for two days. After that, she stopped making arrangements for Shixiao's marriage and let things take their course. However, she would get angry every time the topic came up.
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